'Ambika' is a coloured mango variety with high export potential; however, it suffers substantial postharvest losses due to decay, primarily caused by anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz.) Penz. & Sacc.) and stem-end rot (Lasiodiplodia theobromae (Pat.) Griff. & Maubl.). Being a late-maturing cultivar harvested during the rainy season, infections often originate in the field and progress during postharvest handling, thereby reducing fruit quality, shelf life and marketability. The present study evaluated the effectiveness of different hot -water treatment (HWT) combinations in controlling decay and maintaining quality in mango cv. 'Ambika'. Naturally infected fruits were subjected to hot water treatments at 48 degrees C for 60 min and 52 degrees C for 10 min, dips in 5 % salt solution, plain water and an untreated control. After treatment, fruits were air-dried, packed in corrugated fibre board boxes (CFB) with or without ethylene ripening sachets and stored at ambient conditions. The lowest incidence of anthracnose (1.8 %) and stem-end rot (18.2 %) after 9 days of storage was recorded in fruits treated at 52 degrees C for 10 min. This treatment also maintained higher fruit firmness (> 1.0 kg cm(-2)) and total soluble solids (TSS) (> 20 degrees Brix). In contrast, fruits treated at 48 degrees C for 60 min exhibited superior biochemical quality, including higher total phenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, antioxidant activity and improved skin colour development (higher a* and b* values). Overall, hot water treatment at either 48 degrees C for 60 min or 52 degrees C for 10 min is recommended as an effective postharvest practice to reduce anthracnose and stem-end rot diseases and enhance the quality of mango cv.

Background Wood apple (Feronia limonia (L.) Swingle) is an underutilized fruit with unique consumption-linked properties of fruits at different maturity stages. This study aimed to examine the biochemical and nutritional composition and metabolite dynamics of wood apple fruits at three major stages of development to better comprehend their food and nutraceutical values at unripe mature (S1), intermediate ripe (S2), and fully ripe (S3) stages. Results Moisture content, total soluble solids (TSS), pectin, and carbohydrates increased from S1 to S3, while titratable acidity and ascorbic acid decreased. Phenolic content and antioxidant activity increased from the unripe mature to the fully ripe stage, while total flavonoid content did not differ remarkably. Regardless of fruit maturity stage, caffeic acid was the most abundant phenolic compound, followed by gallic acid and ellagic acid. Mineral analysis showed an increase in P and K with ripening, while Ca, Fe, and Cu decreased. Metabolite profiling identified 75 compounds that showed increasing diversity with fruit maturity, particularly in sugars, amino acids, phenolics, and lipids. Unique sugars and phenolics were stage-specific, indicating biochemical transitions contributing to flavour and nutritional value. Principal component analysis (PCA) effectively discriminated the three fruit maturity stages and identified the key biochemical attributes associated with each stage. Correlation analysis revealed strong relationships between fruit weight, pulp characteristics, moisture, TSS, and antioxidant traits. Conclusions The findings of the present study provide comprehensive insights into ripening dynamics and improve the existing understanding concerning the optimal stages of harvesting for specific nutraceutical-rich value-added uses of wood apple fruits.

Background: Post-harvest losses in bananas, particularly due to diseases such as anthracnose and stem-end rot, significantly limit their storage life and marketability. Developing effective and non-toxic treatments to prolong the shelf life of fruits while maintaining quality is crucial inenabling long-distance transport and facilitating exports. Methods: The most popular and commercial banana variety, ‘Grand Naine’, was treated with a proprietary secondary metabolite-based formulation (this refers to a solution containing natural compounds produced by living organisms, which are not directly involved in growth but can influence various biological processes, such as antimicrobial activity) and stored under cold conditions at 13 °C, using vacuum packaging (a method where air is removed from the packaging to reduce spoilage and prolong freshness). Untreated fruits were considered as controls, meaning that they were not subjected to the treatment and served as a baseline for comparison. Shelf life-related parameters such as ethylene production (a plant hormone responsible for triggering fruit ripening), ACC oxidase activity (an enzyme central to ethylene synthesis), respiration rate (the rate at which fruit consumes oxygen and produces carbon dioxide), firmness, total soluble solids (TSS; measures the sugar content in fruit), acidity, and metabolic composition were assessed, including indices of susceptibility to disease. These measurements were taken at regular intervals for both treated and control fruits. Results: Secondary metabolite-treated bananas maintained quality for 45 days, staying free from anthracnose and stem-end rot. Control fruits showed over-ripening and an 11.6% percent disease index (PDI). Treated fruits had lower ethylene production (7.80 μg/kg/s vs. 10.03 μg/kg/s in controls), reduced ACC oxidase activity, and a slower respiration rate, delaying ripening. They also had greater firmness (1.45 kg/cm2), optimal TSS (13.5 °Brix), balanced acidity (0.58%), and increased flavonoid and antioxidant levels compared to controls. Conclusions: Secondary metabolite-based treatment, combined with cold storage and vacuum packaging, extended banana shelf life to 45 days, minimized disease, and preserved fruit quality. This approach substantially reduced post-harvest losses, demonstrating export potential through extended storage.

Proper pollination and bunch management are vital to improving date palm productivity and fruit quality. The present study was conducted on 6‑year-old tissue culture derived date palm cv. ‘ADP-1’ in hot-arid Indian conditions. The objective was to achieve higher yield and superior fruit quality by standardizing the right time for pollination, optimum crop load and bunch cover. Our findings revealed that pollination had no discernible negative effects on yield or yield attributing traits including fruit weight and pulp weight until 36 h following spathe splitting. However, it was found that the best time to pollinate was between 12–36 h following spathe splitting. The best combination for achieving a high marketable yield of better-quality fruits (total soluble solids, sugar, etc.) was 12 bunches per tree plus 25

Rainfall erosivity is considered as a vital factor in computing soil loss through erosion prediction models such as original and derived versions of the universal soil loss equation model. The accurate estimates of the rainfall erosivity require high-resolution rainfall measurements, which are still not widely available for many parts of the world. In this study, a set of conversion factors was developed to adjust rainfall erosivity estimates derived from rainfall data recorded at various temporal resolutions to those based on 1 min interval rainfall measurements. For the first time in the western arid region of India, 1 min interval rainfall data for two years (2020 and 2024) were utilized to compute the total kinetic energy (E), maximum 30 minute rainfall intensity (I30), and rainfall erosivity factor (R-factor) for individual rainfall events using the EI30 index method. Results of the study indicated that I30 values were severe for 5% to 10% of the total rainy storms, and high to very high for 75% to 80% storms. It is further revealed that as rainfall measurement interval decreases, the peaks of I30 are easily captured, which ultimately leads to enhanced erosive energy of the rainfall. The conversion factors obtained for the arid region in this study are relatively less as compared to that reported for humid and semi-arid regions in earlier studies. Also, underestimations of the E are evidenced on increasing the time interval from 5 min to 60 min with relative error within -10% whereas, the R-factors showed -4.5, -8.0, -9.6, -5.8 and -96.7% underestimations at 5, 15, 30 and 60 min and 24 h, respectively. The relationships developed for computing the precise and accurate E, I30 and R-factors for high-resolution (1 min) data based on coarser data at different time intervals (5 min, 15 min, 30 min, 60 min and 24 h) can be used adequately as the estimations involves a strong interactions confirmed among the factors.

The aim of the present investigation was to develop a suitable planting system with optimum density and canopy configuration as well as the appropriate pruning time to maximize fig production under Indian hot-arid conditions. The popular fig cultivar ‘Diana’, raised through tissue culture, was planted in three different systems, i.e., normal planting at 5 × 5 m (400 plants/ha), high density planting (HDP) at 4 × 3.5 m (715 plants/ha) and double hedge-row system at 2.5 × 2.5 × 5.0 m (1072 plants/ha). Subsequently, plants were trained with a multi-stem system having 4, 6 and 8 primary branches per tree. These trees were pruned leaving 4–5 basal nodes at monthly intervals from May to September. Tree growth parameters were recorded in the optimum range in HDP with 6‑stem training, whereas it was found lowest under the hedge-row system trained with maximum stems per tree. Number of fruits and fruit weight decreased with the increase in the number of stems per plant in all three systems of planting. Due to the accommodation of greater number of total trees per unit area under HDP and the hedge-row system, the total yield was higher as compared to normal planting; however, comparing the two intensive systems of planting, despite having a much higher number of trees (1072 plants/hectare) in the hedge-row, the total yield was less than that of HDP. With regards to biochemical quality, both normal planting and HDP with 6‑stem training stand apart from the hedge-row system due to effective light interception and canopy temperature. It is clear from the present study that either too early pruning (in May) or too late pruning (in September) exerts negative effects on yield and quality traits of fig fruits. Further, pruning in the months of July or June produced the highest number of fruits with larger fruits, eventually leading to higher total yield. In conclusion, HDP at 4 × 3.5 m (715 plants per hectare) while retaining 4–6 stems along with annual pruning of the previous season’s shoots to the basal 4–6 nodes during July is optimum for total fruit yield with quality fruits under hot arid conditions.

Background Girdling influences flowering and fruiting in perennial fruit trees by altering assimilate partitioning and hormonal signaling. However, its mechanistic basis in mango, including the widely grown cultivar ‘Dashehari,’ remains elusive. In this study, the effects of branch girdling on hormonal regulation, metabolic changes, phenolic regulation, nutrient dynamics influencing flowering, and fruit quality were investigated in 20-year-old mango trees. Results Girdling significantly enhanced flower induction, panicle length, and fruit set. Girdled branches produced more than twice the number of panicles (14.90 vs. 6.50 per branch) with longer inflorescences (27.99 vs. 22.18 cm) and nearly doubled the fruit set (10.79% vs. 5.60%) compared to non-girdled controls. Hormonal profiling revealed localized increases in IAA, 2iP, and ABA, and a marked reduction in GA₃ in response to girdling. Girdling increased the levels of epicatechin, caffeic acid, ellagic acid, and p-coumaric acid, which were strongly correlated with floral traits and hormone dynamics. Metabolite analyses further indicated enhanced accumulation of sucrose, glucose, fructose, organic acids, and stress-related compounds in girdled branches. Girdling also reduced the concentrations of P, K, Mg, Zn, Cu, and Mn, while Ca and Fe were maintained or slightly increased. Fruits from girdled branches were heavier, had higher pulp weight and firmness, and showed higher TSS and acidity. Significant increases in phenols, flavonoids, and carotenoids indicated improved nutritional and functional quality of fruits from girdled branches. Overall, these findings demonstrate that girdling modulates hormonal, metabolic, and nutritional pathways to improve the flowering, fruit set, and fruit quality in mango cv. Dashehari. Conclusions The study provides new insights into the physiological underpinnings of girdling in ‘Dashehari’ mango and highlights its potential as a practical orchard management tool to regulate flowering, enhance fruit yield, and fruit quality. Future work should focus on cultivar-specific responses and molecular mechanisms underlying these regulatory shifts in girdled branches and fruits.

The study aimed to investigate the storage stability, nutritional retention, and sensory properties of aonla (Indian gooseberry) candy prepared from three cultivars: ‘CISH A‑31,’ ‘CISH A‑33,’ and ‘Chakaiya.’ High-performance liquid chromatography was used to identify and quantify individual phenolic compounds. Sensory evaluation was conducted using a nine-point hedonic scale to assess color, texture, taste, and overall acceptability. Ascorbic acid content in fresh fruits ranged from 397.78 to 537.66 mg 100 g-1. After candy preparation, ‘CISH A‑31’ retained the highest ascorbic acid (94.22

The sustained higher profitability of a pomegranate orchard relies heavily on the production of a greater proportion of high-quality fruits, a goal achievable through the implementation of effective management practices. The objective of this study is to provide site-specific supplementary knowledge regarding the response of pomegranate plants to various management practices under arid conditions. With the aim of enhancing both marketable fruit yield and quality of pomegranate in arid regions, four separate and simultaneous experiments were conducted in the same orchard to evaluate (i) the response of planting materials derived from tissue culture, air layering, and cutting; (ii) the impact of crop (fruit) load; (iii) the response of crop regulation; and (iv) the application response of organo-mineral fertilizers containing potassium (OMF-K) and phosphorus (OMF-P). The results obtained for plant growth, fruit yield, and fruit quality did not exhibit significant differences among pomegranate plants raised through the three different methods of vegetative propagation. Striking results in terms of producing superior-grade fruits, higher marketable yield, and overall fruit quality were achieved with crop loads of 80 fruits per plant. Staggering the crop regulation from June to September effectively extended the harvesting season to four months, from the last week of November to March, with eventual benefit of reduced fruit cracking compared to the standard two-month harvesting period obtained from normal regulation. Soil application of the indigenously developed OMF-K in two equal splits, along with the recommended N and P through inorganic sources, significantly reduced fruit cracking (only 6.23%) compared to the recommended NPK through inorganic sources (26.9%), while maintaining similar physicochemical quality attributes.

Water scarcity and climate variability impede the realization of satisfactory vegetable yields in arid regions. It is imperative to delve into high-productivity and water-use-efficient protected cultivation systems for the sustained supply of vegetables in harsh arid climates. A strenuous effort was made to find suitable protected structures and levels of irrigation for greenhouse cucumber production in hot arid zones of India. In this endeavor, the effects of three low-tech passively ventilated protected structures, i.e., naturally ventilated polyhouse (NVP), insect-proof screenhouse (IPS) and shade screenhouse (SHS), as well as three levels of irrigation (100%, 80% and 60% of evapotranspiration, ET) were assessed for different morpho-physiological, yield and quality traits of the cucumber in a two-year study. Among the low-tech protected structures, NVP was found superior to IPS and SHS for cucumber performance, as evidenced by distinctly higher fruit yields (i.e., 31% and 121%, respectively) arising as a result of higher fruit number/plants and mean fruit weights under NVP. The fruit yield decreased in response to the degree of water shortage in deficit irrigation across all protected structures. However, the interaction effect of the protected structure and irrigation regime reveals that plants grown under moderate deficit (MD, 20% deficit) inside NVP could provide higher yields than those obtained under well-watered (WW, 100% of ET) conditions inside IPS or SHS. Plant growth indices such as vine length, node number/plant, and shoot dry mass were also measured higher under NVP. The greater performance of cucumber under NVP was attributed to a better plant physiological status (i.e., higher photosystem II efficiency, leaf relative water content and lower leaf water potential). The water deficit increased water productivity progressively with its severity; it remained higher in NVP, as reflected by 20% and 94% higher water productivity than those recorded in IPS and SHS, respectively, across different irrigation levels. With the exception of total soluble solids and fruit dry matter content (which were recorded higher), fruit quality parameters were reduced under water deficit conditions. The findings of this study emphasize the importance of considering suitable low-tech protected structures (i.e., NVP) and irrigation levels (i.e., normal rates for higher yields and moderate deficit (−20%) for satisfactory yields) for cucumber in hot arid regions. The results provide valuable insights for growers as well as researchers aiming to increase vegetable production under harsh climates and the water-limiting conditions of arid regions.

Reliable estimation of mango fruit maturity has great significance in ensuring enhanced fruit quality, shelf life and market value. There is hardly any univocal criterion that can be used to correctly detect the optimum stage of fruit harvest under varied climatic conditions. Hence an experiment was conducted to optimize a reliable criterion for one of the most important commercial mango varieties of India (‘Dashehri’) under sub-tropical region. Fruits were harvested progressively in five pickings viz. 90, 95, 100, 105 and 110 days after full bloom (DAFB). Heat unit, fruit firmness, dry matter, soluble solids content and SSC/acid ratio were considered as stable attributes in defining maturation due to their low standard deviation and coefficient of variation. Harvesting of ‘Dashehri’ mango between 95-100 DAFB exhibited enhanced color development (a* and b*), fruit quality and sensory attributes with no incidence of jelly seed. On the other hand, late harvesting of fruits not only caused high incidence of jelly seed but also affected the shelf life. The findings were also evident with principal component analysis. Early harvested fruits were characterized with sub-optimal color attributes, high post-harvest weight loss and low SSC, sugar and ꞵ-carotene content. The results indicated that DAFB can be used as a reliable non-destructive index to predict optimum time of fruit harvest. Accordingly, optimal range of SSC, dry matter, firmness, heat unit accumulation and SSC/acid ratio was quantified at maturation under subtropical climatic conditions of north India.

Understanding the essential role of ethylene release in the long-distance transportation of climacteric fruits, like mangoes, is crucial. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between ethylene release and the postharvest ripening of mangoes. The research employed innovative ripening sachets to control the ripening process, specifically focusing on extending shelf life and enhancing quality. Dashehari mangoes exposed to ripening sachets releasing 100 ppm of ethylene exhibited improved quality attributes. The 6th day post-treatment recorded the highest total soluble solids (TSS) at 17.37 °B and the lowest acidity at 0.23%. Ascorbic acid content and firmness were measured at 22.50 mg 100 gm-1 and 2.63 kg cm-², respectively. Polygalacturonase activity in mango pulp (11.80,08.56 U mL-1 min-1) and peel (34.00, 20.30 U mL-1 min-1) peaked on the 4th and 6th day, respectively. The peel colour L* value increases from 2nd to 6th day after treatment, whereas the a* and b* values increased from 2nd to 4th day and the a* and b* values gradually decreased on 6th day in all the treatments except T4. The study suggests that ripening sachets have the potential to effectively regulate mango ripening and preserving fruit quality for an extended period.

Arid region is characterised by extreme climatic condition, poor soil health and over-exploitation of natural resources. Under prevailing conditions of arid India, Ficus carica is an emerging fruit crop with high commercial value and nutritional significance. Phenological study plays an important role in ensuring efficient crop management practices, but such studies in fig have not yet been conducted in India. The present study was conducted with an aim to define and describe phenological stages of common fig cultivar 'Diana' in arid regions according to the Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt und Chemische Industrie (BBCH)-scale using two-digit numerical system. The BBCH scale markedly explains various developmental stages of crops. Seven principal growth stages, viz. bud development (0), leaf development (1), shoot development (3), inflorescence development (5), flower development (6), syconium (fig receptacle) development (7) and fruit maturation (8), and 25 secondary growth stages of fig have been described. The sequential progression of principal growth stages of fig indicated temporal variation in growth pattern as well as overlapping of secondary growth stages. Phenological description will act as a pragmatic approach to define growth stages in order to facilitate timely agronomic practices such as canopy management, nutrient management and irrigation scheduling, pest and disease management. Since fig is considered one of the important minor fruits of India, a detailed phenological description will be instrumental in enhancing its potential in arid and semi-arid regions.

Jujube or ber (Ziziphus spp.) is one of the most important fruit crops of India’s arid and semi-arid regions because of its high adaptability to resource constraints hot (semi)arid region. Jujube is a rich source of minerals, vitamins and dietary antioxidants to arid zone dwellers, where it is known as poor man’s apple. Given the present rising trends in discovering and exploiting plant-based health-promoting compounds, it is imperative to know the extent of variability with respect to fruit nutritional compositions present in the jujube germplasms. In this study, we assessed genetic variability for fruit nutritional and functional quality traits in eighteen jujube accessions belonging to three species (Z. mauritiana, Z. rotundifolia and Z. oenoplia) from an ex-situ collection from Indian arid and semi-arid regions in two consecutive fruiting seasons (2020-21 and 2021-22). Results revealed significant variability among eighteen jujube genotypes for important fruits physico-biochemical parameters. The IC 625864 (Z. oenoplia) identified as a superior accession for fruit antioxidant potential with having high levels of total phenols (256.2 mg/100 g dry weight) and total antioxidants (423 mg/100 g in FRAP). Moreover, IC 625849 (Z. mauritiana) and IC 625848 (Z. rotundifolia) were other genotypes containing high levels of phenols and total antioxidant (FRAP). Thus, while aiming for simultaneous improvement for total antioxidants with phenols, IC 625848, IC 625849 and IC 625864 genotypes can be considered as valuable resource for jujube fruit quality improvement program. Further, the high levels of phenotypic variance with high genotypic variance coupled with high heritability and genetic advance particularly for total antioxidants, total phenols, and ascorbic acid contents in fruits, indicating them to be considered as reliable biochemical markers to identify the productive genotypes having higher amounts of dietary antioxidants. Depending on the identified genotypes for their richness in the particular phytonutrients, these can be exploited either for table purpose or biofortification of other products, or using in jujube breeding program for quality improvement.

Cordia myxa is one of the important underutilized fruit plants suitable for aridand semi-arid regions of India having potential for commercial exploitation in vegetableand pickle industry. Fruits of four improved genotypes of Cordia myxa were analyzedfor nutritional value, total phenol content and free radical scavenging activity. Acetoneextracts from dried fruit samples were prepared to determine total phenol content andfree radical scavenging activity using DPPH essay. The fruits harvested at 20 or 30days after fruit set recorded higher crude fibre and crude protein as compared to fullripening stage. The total phenol content was found highest in fruits harvested earliestirrespective of genotypes. The correlation coefficient between total phenol content andfree radical scavenging activity of fruit extract was found positive and significant. Theresults suggest that the fruits of Cordia myxa should be harvested at 20 to 30 days afterfruit set to get maximum benefits of its anti-oxidant and other nutritional properties

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a fruit tree that is globally distributed, especially in warm areas with low annual rainfall and limited water availability. This species exemplifies the critical role of water in agriculture and the need for efficient irrigation practices due to its characteristics, cultivation requirements, and geographic diffusion. In this study, we investigated the effects of drip irrigation and mulching on the vegetative growth, yield, and fruit quality attributes of pomegranate. The experiment involved three irrigation regimes (100% of evapotranspiration, 80%, and 60%) and three mulching treatments (no mulch, plastic mulch, and organic mulch) in a factorial combination. Both irrigation and mulching had significant positive influences on the yield and fruit quality attributes. Specifically, deficit irrigation strategies showed a negative impact on the fruit yield per tree, with a greater effect observed as the severity of the irrigation deficit increased. Mulching, on the other hand, led to a significant increase in the fruit yield, primarily attributed to an increase in fruit size. Furthermore, the analysis indicated that irrigation and mulching treatments had distinct effects on fruit traits such as the fruit length, width, volume, and rind thickness. Interestingly, the study highlighted that the effects of irrigation and mulching on fruit quality attributes were mostly independent of each other, suggesting an additive influence rather than an interaction between the two factors. These findings underscore the importance of considering irrigation and mulching practices for optimizing fruit quality in pomegranate cultivation, particularly in semi-arid regions. The results contribute valuable insights for farmers and researchers seeking to enhance fruit production and quality.

Protected cultivation is gaining momentum in (semi) arid regions to ameliorate the adverse environmental impacts on vegetable crops, besides ensuring high resource use efficiency in resource-limiting environments. Among the less techno-intensive protected cultivation structures, naturally ventilated polyhouses (NVP), insect-proof net houses (IPN) and shade net houses (SNH) are commercial structures in India. With the aim to find the best-protected structure, together with optimum irrigation level, for high yield and water productivity of the tomato crop, the most popular crop in hot arid regions, we evaluated tomato performance in low-tech protected structures (NVP, IPN and SNH) in interaction with three irrigation levels (100, 80 and 60% of crop evapotranspiration, ETc) during spring–summer of 2019 and 2020. The NVP was found superior to both the net house structures (IPN and SNH) for different performance indicators of tomatoes under investigation. The components of plant growth (leaf and stem dry mass) and fruit yield (fruit size, weight, yield), as well as fruit quality (total soluble solids, fruit dry matter and lycopene content) were higher in NVP, regardless of irrigation level. The yield as well as water productivity were significantly higher in NVP at 100% ETc. However, there was no statistical variation for water productivity between NVP and IPN. Microclimate parameters (temperature, relative humidity and photosynthetic active radiation) were markedly more congenial for tomato cultivation in NVP followed by IPN in relation to SNH. Consequently, plants’ physiological functioning with higher leaf relative water content (RWC) and lower leaf water potential concomitantly with better photosynthetic efficiency (chlorophyll fluorescence, Fv/Fm), was in NVP and IPN. Most growth and yield attributes were depressed with the decrease in water application rates; hence, deficit irrigation in these low-tech protected structures is not feasible. For tomato cultivation in resource-scarce arid regions, the combination of the normal rate of irrigation (100% ETc) and NVP was optimal for gaining high yield as well as water productivity as compared to net houses.

Nematodes are a serious problem across pomegranate-growing areas worldwide, but the severity is higher in light sandy soils of arid regions. The present study was carried out to explore the integrated approaches for the control of nematodes in pomegranate. Three different experiments were carried out during 2017–2020 to (a) delineate nematode abundance in major pomegranate areas, (b) screen pomegranate genotypes against nematode, and (c) assess the efficacy of integrated management for the control of root knot nematode in pomegranate. The survey results revealed that none of the pomegranate orchards were found to be free from nematode infestation. Moreover, the majority of the orchards (78%) showed moderate incidence (10.1 to 40%) of infestation. A significant yield reduction (40.2%) and a decrease in fruit size was observed in nematode-affected trees. Pattern of cuticular markings in the perineal area of the mature female confirmed the occurrence of Meloidogyne incognita only in all the surveyed orchard of pomegranate. All the evaluated genotypes and varieties were found susceptible to root knot nematodes, but the severity of the attack varied among them. Hence, more detailed screening is needed on a larger population. Nematode population (number of galls g−1 root) can be minimized significantly with the combined applications of Carbofuran at 20 g + Fluensulfone at 20 g per plant or Neemcake 500 g + Paecilomyceslilacinus at 25 mL + Carbofuran at 20 g + Fluensulfone at 20 g per plant in April and August.

Red-fleshed dragon fruit offers an array of bioactive compounds. Its cultivation is gaining momentum in India, including in arid and semi-arid conditions. Among various factors, the fruit developmental stages and climatic conditions of locations greatly influence the biosynthesis and actual contents of different bioactive compounds and mineral contents of the fruit. The changes in physical attributes, and bioactive and mineral content in red-fleshed dragon fruit grown in semi-arid conditions in India were assessed and quantified at six developmental stages. Significant changes occurred in the physical attributes of the fruit and the bioactive compounds and mineral content during the fruit maturation stages of the red-fleshed dragon fruit. The fruit physical characteristics, such as fruit size, fruit and pulp weight gain, peel thickness, and fruit firmness, along with eating quality parameters, such as soluble solids, sugars, acidity and soluble proteins, were observed at optimum at 35 days after anthesis (DAA). The decrease in total phenolics (29.96%), total flavonoids (41.06%), and vitamin C (75.3%) occurred throughout the fruit development stages, whereas the content of betalains, which was detected initially at 25 DAA, increased (48.6%) with the progression of the fruit development stages. However, the antioxidant capacity and free radical scavenging activity demonstrated variable trends throughout the fruit maturation period. There was an increasing trend in all the minerals up to 35 days, followed by a slight decrease, except for phosphorus content, which increased until the last stage of evaluation. The colour characteristics, in conjunction with the bioactive and antioxidant potential determined in the present study, suggest that red-fleshed dragon fruit can be harvested at 35 DAA for long-distance transportation, and from 35 to 40 DAA for local marketing.